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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – December 4, 2024 2 Permit, Site Plan Review, Final Plat, and Easement Vacation to subdivide and develop an approximately 41.10 acre property that currently contains a place of worship at 1700 Highway 96 West. North Heights Lutheran Church currently owns the Subject Property and contains a single structure that acts as a House of Worship. The property currently has split zoning with a majority of the site zoned R-1 Single Family Residential District and the northwest of the parcel zoned B- 1 Limited Business District. The Subject Property is also within the Shoreland Overlay District based on its proximity to Round Lake. Consultant Planner Hofer reported the proposed changes to the site would subdivide the property into two conforming lots, to facilitate construction of a 162,819 square foot, 119-unit multiple family dwelling, and construct additional parking for the existing house of worship. The proposed PUD would be exclusive to the proposed Lot 1, Block 1. The Applicant made an application for Preliminary Plat and Rezoning on July 17, 2024. The Preliminary Plat and Rezoning (PC 24-015) was reviewed by the Planning Commission on August 7, 2024, and the City Council on September 11, 2024. The City Council approved the Preliminary Plat at the September meeting but tabled the Rezoning on based on the need to review the land use application concurrently with the rezoning request. The Preliminary Plat was approved with the following conditions: 1. The Applicant shall submit to the City a land use application for Final Plat within three (3) months after the date of approval of the Preliminary Plat 2. The Applicant shall work with the Rice Creek Watershed District to review future modifications to vacate existing drainage and utility easements as well as proposed newly dedicated drainage and utility easements prior to the submittal of the Final Plat application. Modifications and newly dedicated easements shall be to the satisfaction of RCWD and the City. Consultant Planner Hofer explained the three-month deadline for the submittal for the final plat based on the above condition was December 9, 2024. Based on this date, the City extended the review of the rezoning in PC 24-015 to November 12, 2024. The Applicant initially made an application for Master Planned Unit Development (PUD), Final Planned Unit Development, Conditional Use Permit (CUP), and Site Plan Review in October of 2024, but the application was deemed incomplete. The Applicant applied again on November 4, 2024, with the addition of an application for Final Plat and Easement Vacation, and the application was deemed complete. Due to the meeting schedule of the City, the Applicant has also submitted a waiver for their rights to a timely review as required by Minnesota State Statute §15.99, for the Final Plat and Rezoning applications, until January 13, 2025. The Subject Property has access from County Highway 96 to the north and Snelling Avenue North to the east. Properties around the parcel are zoned R-1 Single Family Residential District and POS Parks and Open Space District and are used for residential uses and houses of worship. Consultant Planner Hofer reviewed the history of the subject property, the Plan Evaluation and provided the Findings of Fact for review: 1. The property located at 1700 Highway 96 West is designated for High Density Residential uses on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. 2. New building construction or site modification identified requires the submittal of a Site Plan Review application prior to construction.